25 Kislev to 2 Tevet 5787
Hanukkah 2026
Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday 4 December, and ends at nightfall on Saturday 12 December.
Hanukkah takes in two Shabbatot this year: on Friday the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles, and on Saturday night after Shabbat ends.
Hanukkah 2026 runs eight days, from sundown on Friday 4 December.
Times for Jerusalem and New York.
- Work stops
- Days of Hanukkah when work goes on
- Begins at sundown
| Day | In Israel | Outside Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 4 Dec24 Kislev | Israel:First candle, lit before the Shabbat candles at 15:54 | Outside Israel:First candle, lit before the Shabbat candles at 16:10 |
| Sat 5 Dec25 Kislev | Israel:Second candle, lit after Shabbat ends at 17:14 | Outside Israel:Second candle, lit after Shabbat ends at 17:14 |
| Sun 6 Dec26 Kislev | Third candle, everywhere | |
| Mon 7 Dec27 Kislev | Fourth candle, everywhere | |
| Tue 8 Dec28 Kislev | Fifth candle, everywhere | |
| Wed 9 Dec29 Kislev | Sixth candle, everywhere | |
| Thu 10 Dec30 Kislev | Seventh candle, everywhere | |
| Fri 11 Dec1 Tevet | Israel:Eighth candle, lit before the Shabbat candles at 15:55 | Outside Israel:Eighth candle, lit before the Shabbat candles at 16:10 |
| Sat 12 Dec2 Tevet | Israel:Eighth day, on Shabbat. Ends 17:16 | Outside Israel:Eighth day, on Shabbat. Ends 17:14 |
Candles 40 minutes before sunset in Jerusalem and 18 in New York. Shabbat and yom tov end when the sun is 8.5° below the horizon. The same times as our Shabbat pages.
Hanukkah is eight nights of candle lighting marking the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt, and the jar of oil that burned eight days instead of one.
What happens in Israel
Not a public holiday, so work continues, but schools close for the week. Sufganiyot appear in every bakery from late November, and public menorahs are lit in every town square.
How it is kept
- Lighting the menorah for eight nights, adding one candle each night
- Playing dreidel, the four-letter spinning top
- Chocolate gelt and gift-giving, especially for children
- Placing the menorah in a window to publicize the miracle
What people say
"Chag Hanukkah sameach" or simply "Happy Hanukkah"
On the table
Foods fried in oil for the oil miracle: latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
Hanukkah moves by up to a month from one year to the next, but never leaves its season.
The Hebrew calendar follows the moon and adds a month seven years in nineteen. Here is Hanukkah in every year this site has computed.
| Year | Begins at sundown | Ends at nightfall |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wed 25 DecWednesday 25 December | Thu 2 Jan 2025Thursday 2 January 2025 |
| 2025 | Sun 14 DecSunday 14 December | Mon 22 DecMonday 22 December |
| 2026 | Fri 4 DecFriday 4 December | Sat 12 DecSaturday 12 December |
| 2027 | Fri 24 DecFriday 24 December | Sat 1 Jan 2028Saturday 1 January 2028 |
| 2028 | Tue 12 DecTuesday 12 December | Wed 20 DecWednesday 20 December |
| 2029 | Sat 1 DecSaturday 1 December | Sun 9 DecSunday 9 December |
| 2030 | Fri 20 DecFriday 20 December | Sat 28 DecSaturday 28 December |
14 other Jewish holidays fall in 2026.
The next 8 in the order they fall. Each has its own page for 2026.
Monday 2 February
Tu BiShvat
The new year of the trees. Tree planting in Israel and eating the fruits of the land.
Tuesday 3 March
Purim
Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia as told in the Book of Esther. Megillah readings, costumes, mishloach manot and festive meals.
Thursday 2 April
Passover (Pesach)
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
Tuesday 14 April
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
Tuesday 21 April
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, the day before Independence Day.
Wednesday 22 April
Yom HaAtzmaut
Israel's Independence Day, marking the declaration of the state in 1948.
Tuesday 5 May
Lag BaOmer
The 33rd day of the Omer count. Bonfires, weddings and celebrations at Mount Meron.
Friday 22 May
Shavuot
The festival of receiving the Torah at Sinai. All-night learning and dairy foods. Two days in the diaspora, one in Israel.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah 2026?+
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday 4 December and ends at nightfall on Saturday 12 December. Jewish days start in the evening, so the first full day is Saturday 5 December.
How long is Hanukkah?+
8 days. Eight nights everywhere, on the same dates. No difference.
Is Hanukkah different in Israel?+
Eight nights everywhere, on the same dates. No difference.
What happens in Israel on Hanukkah?+
Not a public holiday, so work continues, but schools close for the week. Sufganiyot appear in every bakery from late November, and public menorahs are lit in every town square.
What do you say on Hanukkah?+
The standard greeting is "Chag Hanukkah sameach" or simply "Happy Hanukkah".